Alexander ross and cyrus abrom mcallister



(No Model.)

A. ROSS 8u C. A. MGALLISTER.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLBR. No. 368,425. Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

Mum umnxy 7 l I7? 111 @Magda UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo ALEXANDER ROSS AND OYRUS ABROM MCALLISTER, OF ROCHESTER, NEV YORK, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO BENTON F. BLAOKALL, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,425, dated August 16, 1887. Application filed February 2, 1887. Serial No. 226,210. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we, ALEXANDER Ross and CYRUs A. MeALLrsTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of A Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others io skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. The invention relates to au automatic sprinkler which is adapted for use in extinguishing fire; and its object is to provide an efficient device that will be brought promptly into action under particular conditions, but will certainly remain inoperative unless said conditions exist; and it consists in the several matters hereinafter described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side view of the sprinkler, showing the positions of the several parts when the valve is closed against its seat at the end of the nozzle, the positions occupied when the valve open being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents a bottom view of the combined valve and distributer, showing its hub provided with an o pening` rectangular in cross-section. I Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the upper side of the valve and distributor. Fig. 4 represents the upper end of the screw-body shaped to fit the opening in the hub. Fig. 5 represents the fusible link or coupling, and Fig. 6 represents a modification in which the screw passes through the side of the frame,

1 is a frame, in the upper bar of which is sustained a screw-threaded pipe-socket, 2, and nozzle 3, through which the fluid to be sprinkled passes. rllhe form of the frame may be varied without materially affecting other parts of the device, it being only essential so far as they are concerned that they be held in proper relation to each other.

4 is an angular enlargement on the pipe or 5o tube adapted to the application of a tool in screwing the device into end of a pipe or pipecoupling, which may connect with an extended pipe or system of pipes, which system may be either normally iilled with fire-extinguishing fluid, or may be normally empty, but in such relation to a holder of a supply of fluid that the pipes can readily or automatically be filled therewith in any usual way.

5 indicates a valve having, preferably, in its upper surface a ring, 6, ot' soft metal, rub- 6o ber, or other material adapted to form a watertight joint when the valve is pressed against the nozzle. The end of the nozzle and the bearingsurface on the valve may be ground and itted to produce a tight joint without the use of a packing-ring.

7 indicates a hollow hub or extension ofthe valve-body which fits upon the upper end of the screw 8, the connection being such that the valve revolves as the screw is turned. In the present instance this effect is secured by the angular socket in the hub fitting on asimilarly-shaped post or extension, 9, of the screwbody.

The screw 10 works in a screw-threaded 75 tube, 11, formed in the lower bar ofthe frame, and is used to move the valve to and from its seat on the end of the nozzle. On the lower end of the screw 10 is adjustably secured a lever, 12, in any convenient manner, as by a tubular enlargement, 13, rigidly held to the screw body or head by means of a set-screw, as indicated in the drawings.

14 is a bell-crank lever having its fulcrum preferably on the extension 15 of the frame. S5 One end of the lever let is weighted or made heavy, as indicated, and the other bent to lie when properly adj usted in the same plane and parallel with a projection or extension, 16, of the frame. The lever 12 can also be placed in 9o the same plane and adjacent to the projection 16, and the parts areso constructed and are to be so adjusted that when the valve is tightly closed against the nozzle the end of lever 12, projection 16, and the bent end of lever 141i@ 95 in one plane, and so that a link, 17, can be made to embrace them all and hold them in ixed relation to each other.

A convenient form of link is represented in the drawings. It is made of two pieces, 18 18, 10o

soldered together with fusible solder to produce the formrepresented The particular form is, however, not essential to the operation of the other parts of the device. VThe lateral extensions of the pieces adapt them to be soldered together, and in the completed link they expose a large surface to receive and conduct heat. It' will be evident that the extensions of the pieces 18 allow a considerable amount of solder to be used in a thin film or layer, and that such thin layer will melt quickly and yet by its lateral extension lwill make a secure connection.

Nofusible link known to us provides means analogous to our extensions 21 for enlarging the sensitive area of said link. These extensions being made of thin metal are quickly' affected by a rise in temperature. They not only render it practicable to use a very thin lm of solder, but as they extend outward away from the body of the link and away from the massfof highly-conductive metal of which the lever and connected parts are composed they are on this account less subject to loss by conduction of any heat imparted to them from the surrounding atmosphere. v

As illustrated, the above-described extensions form an angle with that part of the link that is adapted to embrace movable parts or levers together with a fixed projection. They do not therefore come in contact with the parts embraced by the link, being directed away from the same, and, further, they are only connected with the body of the link at one end, the opposite end being in ,contact with air only and at a point removed from the link proper. It results from thisconstruction that no conduction by metal can occur except along the length of the joint and through the small area of metal at the angle. If, also, the link is placed so that the joints lie in a horizontal plane, there isV no danger that the solder when partly melted will run down upon the levers and projection and be there chilled by conduction, so as to harden upon them and prevent the desired movement of the levers,

and, further, the form of the pieces composing the link illustrated is such that when unsoldered neither of them can ever embrace the levers and projection on more than two sides,` or in manner to hinder their free movement.

In use the valve is raised and pressed against the nozzle by properly revolving the screw. The lever 12 having been suitably adjusted by means ofthe setscrew, the fusible link is placed over the ends of the levers and projection 16, as stated, in which position of the parts the weighted end of the lever 14c tends tofall and revolve the lever about the fulcrum or pivot 15. The link 17, made ,and described,will be melted and the parts separated by any dangerous or abnormal degree of heat, as upon the occurrence of fire in the vicinity of the device. The removal or melting of the link releases the bent lever, s'o that the weight causes it to revolve, and it is so shaped and proportioned that it will in falling strike the lever 121with sufficient force to turn 'the screw and move the valve--awaylfrom the nozzle. The momentum of the weighted arm may be sufficient .to run the screw down until it is arrested by the enlargement 19, or, if not surticient, the impact of the iluid escaping from the nozzle willeftect that result. Thebuckets 20, formed in the upper face of the distributer contribute to this operation, and after the distributer has moved to a xed position they act to spray Vthe water or other iiuid.

' In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the screw passes through the side of the frame'in a direction at right angles to the direction of the nozzle and pipe connection. The lever12 depends from the screw and canl be locked to' 'the projection 16 by a link, as in the form lirst described. This screw is connected by a swivel or swiveled link and chain with a toggle-lever, and mediately with the valve sprinkler, the parts being arranged, as shown, so that the screw and chain hold the togglelever and pressl the valve to its seat against hydrostatic pressure. When the link is melted or otherwise removed,the pressure in the pipe and the-weight of the valve will be suiiicient to bend the lever at the joint, revolve the screw, and force the valve to its lowest position on the projections 21 of the frame.

It will be understood from the above de scription that the valve will be quickly and surely moved upon thevmelting ofthe link or the solder thatfastens together its parts, and also that the unbroken link can be readily removed to cause the operation of the sprinkler.

It is also obvious that the fluid-pressure does not bear directly upon afusible joint or link,- -nor upon levers directly connected with such link, butl that a screw is interposed whereby the link or joint is protected from any injurions pounding or pressure in the pipes, such pressure being necessarily applied and sustained by the inclined plane of the screw.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of the nozzle, the valve and distributer,

the frame provided with a screw-threaded socket, the screw working in said socket, and the arm adj ustably secured to the head of the screw, substantially as set forth, whereby the valve may be closed and the arm adjusted.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of the nozzle, the valve and distributer, frame,screw, arm ad j ustablysecured to thehead of the screw, weighted bell-crank, and fusible link, substantially as specified, whereby upon the fusing of the link the weight will fall against the arm and by its momentum move said arm to open the valve.

3. The combination of the frame, nozzle, valve and distributer, screw, adjustable lever, projection 16, weighted bell-crank, pivot, and fusible link, all substantially as set forth.

4. The combination ofthe pipe, frame, nozzle, valve and distributer, an extension of the IOO IIO

valvel adapted to rotate with the valvefand provided with an inclined plane having a bearing upon a similar plane,along which itmoves when the valveis rotated, and the valve-operating lever, all substantially as set. forth.

5. In combination with adevice for automatically sprinkling and with parts arranged to be held by a link, the link made of pieces 1S 18, having parts 21 soldered together by easily-fusible material and extended or directed away from the body of the link and from the parts inclosed thereby at an angle thereto, substantially as specitied,\vhereby the conductive action of the metallic parts held C by the link is diminished.

6. The link made of pieces 18 18, having extensions 21, secured together by fusible solder, the extensions of joints being directed away at an angle from the body of the link and from the metallic parts inclosed thereby and arranged in a horizontal position not over said parts, in combination with the arm and projection 16, and with the valve, substantially as specified, whereby the conductive action of the metal of the arm and projection is diminished and the dropping of molten solder upon the arm and projection is obviated.

7. The link for use in combination with the movable parts of an automatic sprinkler, consisting of pieces secured together with easilyfusible solder applied to extensions of said pieces directed at an angle away from the body of the link, whereby the conductive action of the body of the link upon the soldered joint is diminished, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a fluid -conveying pipe, a frame provided with a nozzle which forms a continuation of the pipe-conduit and terminates in a valve-seat, and provided also with a pivot which forms an axis for aweighted lever, and provided with an extension for securing an arm adapted to move a valve to and from said seat, the weighted lever arranged to fall against a valve-operating arm, the arm and a fusible link for holding the arm to the extension, and a valve, substantially as specified.

9. For usein an automatic sprinkler,aframe provided with a nozzle whereby it may be united to a fluid-conduit, said nozzle having a valve-seat, a valve and distributer provided with an extension adapted to be supported in and moved through the frame,a valve-moving arm adapted to be connected to the frame by a fusible link, and aweightedlever pivoted to the frame and arranged to fall and strike the arm upon the melting of the fusible link, substantially as specified.

10. The combination,in afi-ame adapted for use with a fluid-conveying pipe and with a valve and distributer, of a weighted lever, a

valve-operating arm, anda fusible connection between the lever and frame and also between the arm and frame, whereby when the fusible connection is melted the weighted arm moves and strikes the arm to open the valve, substantially as specified.

11. The combination of a uid-conveying pipe, a nozzle in the frame,forming a continua` tion of the pipeconduit and provided with a valve-seat, a combined valve and distributer normally supported against the valve-seat, an extension ofthe valve havinga screw-threaded connection with a correspondiugly-threaded socket in the frame, and a fusible link and intermediate connections by which the valve is held to its seat, substantially as set forth, whereby the fluid-pressure may normally be sustained by the inclined plane along which the bearing part moves when the valve is being opened.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER ROSS. CYRUS ABROM lllcillihl'S'dllt.

Vitnesses:

H. W. MORGAN, W. F. MILLEN. 

